Viktor is crazy strong right now

slippykitten·Jun 5, 2015·80 votes·7,227 views

And i love it. He has counterplay, lacks mobility, and requires skill. A bad viktor can easily get destroyed but a good viktor can basically lock you down and laser you to death in two hits. He is an example of a good mage. He doesn't need cancer instastuns, or be able to hop around the map 5 thousand times, he needs to learn how to use his abilities, play smart and he can carry hard.

Unfortunately i wouldn't be surprised if he gets nerfed soon, because a non mobile mage that requires skill but has the potential to carry is often unacceptable.

Bottom line though, i always have fun playing as or against Viktor Which is more than i can say for pretty much every hyper mobile nancy champ.

115 Comments

SquarefighterJun 5, 201534 votes

Viktor Stop! He's trash! Don't play him! Don't let them know!

333lomJun 6, 20159 votes

He's trash tier, I swear, don't nerf him! Keep him in the dark! Guys, please help me hide him... I'm kind of sad seeing him get picked more.

Davy CrockettJun 7, 20151 votes

But now they know! LET IT GOOOOO! LET IT GOOO!

LupxelJun 5, 201528 votes

Viktor Shh... Dont say my main is OP... People will start abusing him :c

slippykittenJun 5, 201511 votes

{quoted}

Shh... Dont say my main is OP... People will start abusing him :c

Sorry, i recently discovered his strength and got excited, youre right, we shouldn't let riot know or nerfs could be incoming.

A Superb VillainJun 6, 201511 votes

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1kzh3HakI1qa6lp8.gif

DarthSpectrumJun 5, 20157 votes

I doubt that Riot would touch him. Viktor's kit is much more fair than those of other mages in League. His far range attack has a huge visual indicator (Giant laser beam coming towards you), and his CC can actually be avoided by the enemy rather than instantly putting them under the stun.

Compared to champions such as Orianna or Annie, whose spell rotations are pretty similar, Viktor does not appear that overpowered. Annie's combo is instant and does a ton of damage with CC. If the opponent doesn't have Banshees or QSS, they die.

Orianna's combo is a bit similar: E on one person or Q, W for the slow, and ult.

For Viktor, people can actually walk out of his W range and 1/2 his ult damage by walking away. In terms of counterplay, I much rather go against a Viktor than anyone else.

YOLO420SWAGSCOPEJun 5, 20156 votes

if his laser was easier to aim imagine how much stronger he would be...

slippykittenJun 5, 20156 votes

{quoted}

if his laser was easier to aim imagine how much stronger he would be...

It's not too bad once you get used to it. You just absolutely cannot have it on smart cast.

CastaneanJun 5, 201510 votes

Really? I use smart-cast and I find it works just fine. I agree that the laser can be a bit awkward though, and it's probably just a case of me smart-casting literally everything, Yes, even the old Veigar stun, so I've probably just gotten used to it.

junglerboy16Jun 5, 20154 votes

smart cast on the laser is functionally the same as if you have a normal ability set to smart cast with indicators. press the button to set a start point, release the button to set an endpoint and fire.

CastaneanJun 5, 20152 votes

Exactly, which is why I use it. I like it that way! Same with Rumble's ult!

junglerboy16Jun 5, 20153 votes

Yeah, I'm simply pointing out that it is nowhere near as hard to use or clunky as anyone thinks it is. It used to be obnoxious and hard to use back when he wass released, but mid-late season 3 (I think) someone at Riot recoded it so smart cast actually works with it now.

ZirzonJun 5, 20154 votes

I actually find it to be easier with smart cast, personally.

It Hertz When IPJun 5, 20155 votes

Exactly. I've had some Viktors absolutely crush me in game, and some that I could just roll right over. Even then, each time I got crushed it was because I screwed something up. Now THAT is an example of a balanced champion.

pE4CbxDPQOJun 5, 20154 votes

Huh. Haven't seen any good Viktor's I guess. I used to see him carry games, but not since Cinderhulk has been around. Gimme a build and skill order to work with so I can try him in normals?

slippykittenJun 5, 20153 votes

{quoted}

Huh. Haven't seen any good Viktor's I guess. I used to see him carry games, but not since Cinderhulk has been around. Gimme a build and skill order to work with so I can try him in normals?

Damage is your friend.... normally. Rush your hex core, since it amplifies your abilities and gives great stats. Then i go lich bane (even though i dont think the pros ever do), it synergizes so well with your q imo, then deathcap and ludens echo. You max your laser, and get good with it. It is basically a rumble ult as your main ability, but if you can nail it consistently, you are guaranteed to have the highest damage output in any game you play.

If you can nail his stun, laser, double q and ult, its not only an insta kill for sure, but in multiple enemy situations, 3 out of four of your abilities are AOE.

SerevasJun 5, 20157 votes

I don't know if I'd want to go Lichbane as first item after hex, Luden's is a snowbally item and gives you some really unpleasant poking power in the earlier stages of the game. I almost feel like I'd go Hex, Luden's, Lich or Dcap, the other item. I'd have to test in game, but what do you think?

slippykittenJun 5, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I don't know if I'd want to go Lichbane as first item after hex, Luden's is a snowbally item and gives you some really unpleasant poking power in the earlier stages of the game. I almost feel like I'd go Hex, Luden's, Lich or Dcap, the other item. I'd have to test in game, but what do you think?

That might be better. I've only played him 10 or so times, and I don't see the pros building lich on him at all. I just find it really fun to see my auto after Q to do 1,000 damage

DrCyanideJun 5, 20154 votes

Pros to Lich Bane:

It's a deterrence. Not many people want a second helping of an ability on low cooldown that ate half their health bar.
Incredibly useful against mobile champions, as it doesn't need to be aimed and thus can't miss unless you click on a minion.

Cons:

You need to get up close and personal to use it.
Not as helpful in a teamfight when you're trying to stay back and dish damage with your Ult/Laser.

I think that the choice about relying on his Q or his E is also what makes Viktor a fun champion. You can adapt your play style and build to be a bit better against whatever comes your way.

slippykittenJun 5, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Pros to Lich Bane:

It's a deterrence. Not many people want a second helping of an ability on low cooldown that ate half their health bar.

Incredibly useful against mobile champions, as it doesn't need to be aimed and thus can't miss unless you click on a minion.

Cons:

You need to get up close and personal to use it.

Not as helpful in a teamfight when you're trying to stay back and dish damage with your Ult/Laser.

I think that the choice about relying on his Q or his E is also what makes Viktor a fun champion. You can adapt your play style and build to be a bit better against whatever comes your way.

That makes sense. I usually get it early so it gives me lane dominance and helps me gank people, but when team fights start, i dont really get to make full use of it.

WillHealForHonorJun 7, 20151 votes

when get boots? i like boots fast and i go flash ghost for mobility

SquarefighterJun 5, 20153 votes

Actually, there was some Reddit post a while ago on R/Viktormains on the math of items, and you basically shouldn't ever go lichbane until some point after your Deathcap, you just do a more damage per gold spent.

slippykittenJun 5, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Actually, there was some Reddit post a while ago on R/Viktormains on the math of items, and you basically shouldn't ever go lichbane until some point after your Deathcap, you just do a more damage per gold spent.

Good to know, thanks!

Vistha KaiJun 5, 20153 votes

That's obvious. Lich Bane is one of the worst items to rush on virtually any champion - tell me if you will find at least one champ it isn't true.

WillHealForHonorJun 7, 20151 votes

TF is the closest for it to be viable i guess

Vistha KaiJun 7, 20151 votes

No, he's not. Lich Bane rush would be the most viable on champions that don't have any AP scaling. Such as troll build AP Riven.

Lich Bane scales with AP. It is meant to be bought after at least one big AP item. If you rush it you throw away whatever the lead you had for the next 10 minutes until you finish another item or two.

DedriusJun 5, 20152 votes

Basically go Hex, Ludens, Deathcap, Void, then a situational item (Ga, Banshees, Zhonyas, Lich bane, ect.) with boots thrown in the mix somewhere.

MLDzXnRRRJun 5, 20153 votes

Good build is Dorans start, first back - upgrade your laser, then rush morello/grail or rabadon (depending on the enemy team) and boots; void staff; then situational items (LB/Abyssal/Zhonya/ GA, if you are getting focused every time). I think Viktor's core items are the laser upgrade, void and rabadon (with these 3 you can win every dragon fight or small skirmish).

I prefer getting morello or athenes for the 40 % cdr with scaling cdr runes, so you can spam q and e and have your ult up for every TF. IF you don't get void, your damage is garbage vs anyone with MR; Deathcap outshines every high Ap item and gives you insane Ap with you passive item; Ludens could be ok for rush (waveclear and poke), but in solo Q, junglers rarely give blue buff and Viktor's abilities are not very spammable early and midgame, so I don't see how it's a good item on him. I can see Ludens, Rylai and Liandry for a poke Viktor, but don't know how good is this build. If you are getting fed, laser + Rabadon with sheen/then LB is the best build. Laser+Ludens+LB is the best midgame dmg against squishies with no MR, but you will rarely see teams that don;t build MR vs Viktor - the jungler and the toplaner will get atleast spectre's cowl vs you; midlaner and the adc will stay away from you, because the laser can take half their hp bars with just a single cast.

DanofDemaciaJun 5, 20153 votes

He needs nerfs. His laser is to much damage and the hitbox is retarded. stun is to easy to land and a built in lichbane does right even think anymore. I hate this scum and I can't wait for the nerfs <3

slippykittenJun 5, 20159 votes

{quoted}

He needs nerfs. His laser is to much damage and the hitbox is retarded. stun is to easy to land and a built in lichbane does right even think anymore. I hate this scum and I can't wait for the nerfs <3

I'm just going to go on with my life assuming you're being sarcastic.

ZarxisJun 5, 20153 votes

Viktor might escape the nerf bat because he's already felt it indirectly. The %base mana changes, the nerfs to Athene's Unholy Grail (and Morellonomicon), and the changes to the utility mastery tree all hit him fairly hard (along with all other mana-using squishy mages that went 21/0/9 in their masteries).

SammystormJun 6, 20153 votes

Viktor is hardly the worst off from the mana changes. Several others who already needed two mana items like anivia are much worse off from the mana changes.

stochastic42Jun 5, 20153 votes

Lacks mobility? You don't know about his q upgrade do you?

A 30% movement speed boost every 4s (2.4s max cdr) that lasts 2.5 seconds. Hardly immobile although no leblanc.

Vistha KaiJun 5, 20159 votes

For some time now haste spells barely count as mobility.

I mean, when Rito releases a champion with a dash, two blinks AND a haste... yeah.

slippykittenJun 5, 20154 votes

{quoted}

Lacks mobility? You don't know about his q upgrade do you?

A 30% movement speed boost every 4s (2.4s max cdr) that lasts 2.5 seconds. Hardly immobile although no leblanc.

A speed boost that requires you to upgrade an ability and needs an opponent to use it on is hardly the same as 4 flash leblanc, each champion release the definition of "mobility" gets a little crazier.

NielarkenJun 6, 20153 votes

Viktor Do not play this shit champ hes weak and has no dashed or slows hes bad go play Ekko or Katarina leave this bad champ alone

Juggernaut NJun 5, 20152 votes

He's better top which most people never try out.

SquarefighterJun 5, 20152 votes

I've tried VIktor top. The problem with him top (in my opinion) is that every time you harrass with your E, you really shove the wave and all you have for ganks is a one second stun. It can work if the enemy has terrible ganks like a warwick or something tho.

Juggernaut NJun 5, 20152 votes

Usually you max q and upgrade q so the enemy cant touch you if you're going top vik. Also as long as you ward you'll be fine.

A Miss FortuneJun 5, 20152 votes

I think the only reason Viktor isn't legitimately overpowered is because if you dodge his laser, for the next 7-ish seconds (Depending on CDR, but it's almost always 7 - 7.5 with most builds today.) he can't do a whole lot of damage, sure a fed 10-0 Viktor can still nuke you with his Q-AA/R but it won't be effective.

A simple tip to countering Viktor:

Step to the SIDE to dodge his laser, it has extremely high range and you can't outrun it. After it's on Cooldown, then engage on him if you are able to.

NazZomLordJun 6, 20152 votes

Nah man, he suck (SHHH!!! THEY WILL FIGURE IT OUT!!) Who plays Vik, only scrub noobs

SammystormJun 6, 20152 votes

Immobile mages, especially older ones have a tendency of having extremely powerful individual skills. Viktor isn't really an exception to this. Historical what held him back was him having to have a bad late game item and made it so he effectively didn't scale. Now however his item is actually good and gives good stats which makes him a lot stronger. However I find it unlikely that he will see much play unless his abilities because grossly overpowered because of the unreliability of his stun and laser. If he does see play it will most likely be because of his numbers being too good but I don't really think that it is likely.

Basically three things are consistently played at a competitive level: raw numbers, safety, and consistency. Viktor has the numbers to be competitive but not the consistency. He also only has sketchy safety due to his need to get closer then some mages and no reliable way to get out fast. Not saying you can't do well with him because you can. However he just isn't really at a level in my opinion where he will be played competitively or be nerfed by riot. So I think you are fine.

GavranJun 6, 20152 votes

I haven't had much fun / done that well with him after they shifted his power from E to Q. :\

stevedoesmcJun 6, 20152 votes

Xerath is kinda like that, if you have someone that is immobile or bad at dodging 3-4 q's later and sometimes an ulti and you've got constant kills

Curling VeigarJun 5, 20151 votes

cancer insta stuns? >:|

FadedpfJun 5, 20151 votes

yes you veigar main

Vistha KaiJun 5, 20152 votes

Meanwhile Annie

BlackwindyJun 6, 20151 votes

well they are nerfing ludens

The HexmageJun 6, 20153 votes

I'm a main Viktor and I usually don't buy item 3285 . My build is more like: item 3198 item 3089 item 3157 item 3100 item 3135 item 3020 or item 3001 instead of .